Mentoring Programme Coordinator

Job description

**_About Hope for the Young_**
- Hope for the Young removes the obstacles to young refugees and asylum-seekers’ education and wellbeing through mentoring, advocacy, and financial support._
- The Grants and Advocacy Programme supports young people who, due to their immigration status, have no access to student finance to enable them to go to college or university. We provide small grants to pay for tuition fees, living allowances and travel expenses alongside tailored advocacy support to enable young refugees and asylum-seekers to access education in the UK._
- The Mentoring Programme supports young refugees and asylum-seekers aged 16-25 by matching them with trained volunteer mentors who provide weekly one-to-one support tailored to the young people's needs. Mentors can help with teaching English, enrolment advice, study skills, confidence and trust building and can provide emotional and practical support that will help the young people access new services, adapt and settle into their communities._

**_ About this role_**
- We are recruiting two Mentoring Programme Coordinators to manage and expand our high-quality Mentoring Programme that supports young refugees and asylum-seekers to achieve goals tailored to their needs. The programme aims to help them access education, improve their English, increase independence skills, build confidence, access appropriate services, reduce isolation, and adapt to life in the UK. One Mentoring Programme Coordinator will be responsible for coordinating the mentoring programme across the borough of Newham, the other will be responsible for coordinating the mentoring programme across different areas in London where there is need. _
- You will be responsible for building and maintaining strong partnerships with refugee support organisations, colleges and social services to maintain steady referrals to the programme. You will be required to assess young people’s needs and carefully match them with mentors with the relevant skills and experience. You will simultaneously recruit, train and support volunteers to provide weekly one-to-one support to their mentees and carefully monitor the progress of each relationship. Further to this, you will be responsible for responding to safeguarding concerns and providing casework support for young people when issues arise that are beyond the remit or capacity of the mentor. You will also need to maintain strong professional boundaries._
- You will also be required to evaluate the progress of individuals, keeping databases up to date and maintaining accurate reporting. Due to the nature of the programme, flexibility will be key to success and you will be required to travel across London and attend meetings in the early evenings (you can take this time back according to our Time Off In Lieu Policy). We offer a flexible and hybrid working environment, however you will be expected to come to our office in Brixton for a minimum of 2 days per week. _
- You will be one of 7 members of staff working alongside a team of dedicated volunteers. Being part of a small team, you will get the opportunity to contribute ideas and help to shape Hope for the Young as we grow and are supporting more young people than ever before. _
- The job description as described will be reviewed on a regular basis to respond to any changing needs of the post._

**_ Main duties and responsibilities_**

**_ Volunteer Management and Support_**
- To co-ordinate a team of volunteer mentors who will provide targeted practical, educational and emotional support to young refugees and asylum seekers on a weekly basis.
- To ensure the volunteer mentors support young people to access services and develop skills which lead to increased levels of education and employment and support them in making choices which will help them improve their physical, psychological and social well-being.
- To facilitate a shared culture of co-operation and joint learning, including the delivery of quarterly mentoring workshops for all volunteers.
- To increase retention of volunteers by ensuring all mentors feel welcome, valued and part of Hope for the Young.
- To ensure safeguarding and child protection processes are in place and adhered to at all times, as well as maintaining professional boundaries.
- To keep mentors and mentees updated regularly with relevant events and opportunities to support their learning and personal development.

**_Recruitment, Training and Matching_**
- To develop relationships with potential sources of volunteer mentors and post role descriptions on various platforms to expand volunteer base.
- Deliver further training to volunteer mentors on a regular basis, occasionally with the support of external organisations, which will support them to deliver effective mentoring sessions to their mentees.

**_ Outreach and Partnerships_**
- To work with refugee community organisations and statutory agencies to create referral and access pathways into and out of t